The Magdalen Islands or their French name - Îles de la Madeleine are an archipelago of more than a dozen, almost treeless islands, linked by kilometres of sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Plunked down in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, they take up a mere 206 square km (80 square mi), so there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them. Although French is the first language for most of the…
I have been very lucky to spend a lot of time doing hikes in Canada - across all provinces and territories. What I look for in a great day hike is superlative scenery - with my preference being coast, lake or mountain views or even something that makes the hike unique. The Mingan with its fantastic eroded rock monoliths would be a great example. I'm not a fan of hiking miles through forests without a…
If you're looking for a Quebec road trip that's a little different, why not drive the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River from Quebec City to Havre-Saint -Pierre, the last town of any size, with the option to continue to Kegashka, at the end of Highway 138 - a distance of 1,060 kilometres. In theory you could do the road trip in one long day, taking about 12 hours. But there are a lot…
On a chilly, rainy summer's night John and I ventured to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa to see for ourselves what the experience was like. I'd heard many wonderful reports since it opened in the winter of 2018. The spa, fashioned in the Nordic tradition, stimulates your senses with temperature changes (hot, warm and cold pools) along with aromatherapy via the steam room. It's all set against a gorgeous Rocky Mountain backdrop, only an hour away…
Over two weeks we found a lot of interesting places to visit in Morocco, starting and ending in Casablanca. The "real trip" started in Marrakesh. From there we did a clockwise loop that took us over the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert. Continuing, we drove southwest towards Icht where we could see Algeria off in the distance. Then we turned north and headed to Essaouira via numerous stops detailed below to complete the loop and…
One of the easiest hikes to do in Kananaskis Country is the hike to Elbow Lake. It's only 1.3 kilometres in from the trailhead with about 137 metres of elevation gain. If you're a keen hiker that won't be enough but there is the option to continue to Rae Glacier. Note that the hike to Elbow Lake is ideal for families. And it makes a great first camping trip. Getting to Elbow Lake from the…
I finally made it to Regina this past summer - the last of the Canadian cities for me to visit. Even though Regina is a prairie city, it's green and lush thanks to 350,000 hand-planted trees. With truly fabulous restaurants, a passionate fan base for the Saskatchewan Roughriders football team and one of the largest urban parks in North America, I'd certainly recommend a visit. Here's what you can do in the city- 8 Awesome Things…
Winter in Lake Louise may be cold but it sure is pretty. There's loads to do for skiers and non-skiers alike. A frozen lake with the most beautiful skating rink in the world set against a backdrop of truly stunning mountain scenery may be the first thing people think of when they think winter in Lake Louise. But within 25 - 30 minutes of Lake Louise Village there are an incredible number of outstanding outdoor…
It's amazing the difference eight years can make to a place. Last time I looked, North Vancouver was a sleepy spot. The waterfront was pretty but I'd never have called it vibrant. And after 8 PM there was never a whole lot to do. That's completely changed with the addition of The Shipyards District at the bottom of Lower Lonsdale. Now I'd recommend you try and fit in as many of these things to do…
Hokkaido is the northernmost and least developed of Japan's four main islands. It's famous for hot springs, volcanoes, ski resorts and beautiful, national parks. With unspoiled nature you can look forward to a host of memorable, unique things to do in Hokkaido in winter. This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to…